Marian antisemitism in medieval life and legend : a study based on Alfonso X's Cantigas de Santa Maria
Date
1997
Authors
Jackson, Deirdre Elizabeth
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Abstract
This thesis examines three miracle tales with anti-Jewish leitmotivs from Alfonso X's Cantigas de Santa Maria, Escorial, Biblioteca Real, MS T.I.1. In each one, a Jewish male is confronted by an image of the Virgin and Child which provokes a strong reaction from him. The Jewish characters who interact with the image of the Virgin in a positive way are integrated into the Christian community. Jews who respond negatively are punished. In each tale, the Jew's reaction to the image of the Virgin and Child corresponds to his acceptance or rejection of the doctrine of the Incarnation which it embodies. These narratives (and another involving a Moor, with which I compare them) not only demonstrate the power of the Virgin over non-Christians, but the power of the Marian image over Muslims and Jews whose apparent rejection of religious imagery was a source of concern for medieval Christians. While focusing on miracle tales, this discussion also draws attention to the role played by sacred images in medieval life. Throughout Europe, Christians rallied around representations of the Virgin onto which they projected their values. These religious images served as "shields of faith" reinforcing the identity of the group united in veneration of them.